Peter Pappas

About:

Peter Pappas is a history educator and writer who explores archives and mentors online, with a passion for unsanitized history.

Website:

forgottenfiles.substack.com

Specializations:

Writer Educator Instructional Designer Online mentor

Interests:

History Archives Education Primary sources

Incoming Links:

Miguel García Álvarez

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2025-06-24 • history politics social sciences eugenics

The text discusses the history of Better Baby Contests in the early 1900s, which were aimed at improving child health but were deeply entangled with the rising eugenics movement. It explores how these contests led to broader publi...

2025-03-25 • portland alien venezuelan immigrants japanese american

The text discusses the unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and the parallels with the current treatment of Venezuelan migrants. It highlights the fear-based rhetoric and demonization of entire communitie...

2025-03-11 • social sciences media spacex commentary yellow kid

The text discusses the impact of the Yellow Kid comic strip on society and how it foreshadowed modern societal issues. It explores the character's influence on media, social norms, and public services, drawing parallels to contemp...

2025-02-25 • us politics american democracy voting rights

The text discusses the SAVE Act proposed by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and its potential impact on voter access. It highlights the historical context of voter suppression in the US, from the 19th century to the present day, and how the ...

2025-02-11 • history reform government anti-corruption

The text discusses the history of political patronage in the United States, from Andrew Jackson's presidency to the Gilded Age, and its implications for governance and corruption. It also highlights the efforts to reform the syste...

2025-01-28 • automation creative industries music defense league talkies mechanization of art live orchestras pre-recorded media

The rise of AI and automation in creative industries is not a new phenomenon. In the 1930s, the Music Defense League fought against the mechanization of art, as live orchestras in theaters were replaced by prerecorded music. The a...

2025-01-21 • history san francisco bay area emperor norton

The text is about Emperor Norton, who declared himself the Emperor of the United States in the 19th century. It describes his rise to power, his progressive views, and his impact on the people of San Francisco. Despite being a sel...

2025-01-07 • classic literature stereotypes black history month

The text discusses the contrast between Percival Everett’s James and the Darktown Comics by Currier & Ives. It highlights how Everett's James portrays the resilience and intelligence of enslaved individuals, while the Darktown Com...

2024-12-30 • history new year's celebration success hope fear

The text reflects on the historical significance of the New Year, drawing parallels between the challenges faced in 1913 and those faced in 2025. It emphasizes the coexistence of hope and fear and the potential for progress even i...

2024-12-03 • history milk public health regulatory reform

The text discusses the dangers of consuming unpasteurized milk, focusing on the swill milk crisis in 19th-century New York City and the subsequent pasteurization revolution led by Nathan Straus. It also highlights the impact of de...

2024-11-19 • history industrial revolution reform child labor

The text discusses the resurgence of efforts to weaken child labor protections in the United States, revealing that the battle fought more than a century ago is far from over. It delves into the history of child labor during Ameri...

2024-11-12 • us tariffs public policy protectionism gilded age

The text discusses the hidden costs of tariffs, using historical cartoons to illustrate how tariffs enrich an elite few while leaving consumers with inflated prices and empty promises. It compares Trump's proposed tariffs to those...

2024-10-22 • social justice immigration republican party

The text discusses how lies and false narratives have been used to protect the powerful and oppress the vulnerable. It highlights how today’s critical election issues are rooted in distorted historical narratives, focusing on wome...

2024-10-16 • immigration u.s. history racism and discrimination xenophobia

The text discusses the recurring accusations against immigrants through the lens of political cartoons, highlighting the cycle of fear and rejection that has long shaped America's immigration policies. It explores the themes of ra...

2024-10-10 • american democracy authoritarianism nationalism fascism isolationism dr. seuss

Dr. Seuss used his pen to confront dangerous political ideas and shake a nation content to ignore the rise of authoritarianism abroad. His weapon was humor, but his target was deadly serious. Seuss's fight against isolationism fee...

2024-09-23 • white supremacy racism and discrimination thomas nast editorial cartoons

The article discusses the use of political cartoons by Thomas Nast to expose the alliances between Southern ex-Confederates, white supremacist groups, and Northern politicians who undermined Reconstruction's promise of racial equa...

2024-09-09 • reproductive rights gender equality suffrage movement

The text discusses the history of anti-suffrage propaganda and its impact on women's political power. It highlights the visual mockery and caricatures used to discredit suffragettes, linking their appearance to their worth and por...

2024-08-20 • survival societal impact cold war nuclear weapons escape plans

The text discusses the fallout shelter craze in America during the early 1960s, fueled by the fear of nuclear war. It explores the economic, social, and cultural impact of the shelter industry, highlighting the class divide and th...

2024-08-13 • interface segregation white supremacy civil rights racism and discrimination economic warfare

The text discusses the White Citizens' Councils that emerged in the 1950s as a response to the civil rights movement. These councils used economic power and social influence to maintain white supremacy under a veneer of respectabi...

2024-08-06 • technology history art vintage

The text discusses a collection of illustrations from France in 1900 that predicted the future of technology and society in the year 2000. It highlights the imaginative depictions of aviation, undersea exploration, and mechanized ...

2024-07-30 • political division historical maps and imagery 19th century charles hugh smith, john f. smith

The text discusses John F. Smith's 1888 map 'Historical Geography' and its reflection of the socio-political landscape of post-Reconstruction America. The map depicts the regional tensions, economic disparities, and social divides...

2024-07-25 • art deco jazz art books travel posters

The text discusses the travel posters and maps created by American illustrator John Held Jr. for the New Haven Railroad in the early 20th century. It reflects the optimism and joy of travel during that time, capturing the essence ...